Staff at Quest Global Ltd, including Chairman Lord Stevens, were given numerous opportunities to deny they conspired with the FEI President Mr. Ingmar De Vos and other FEI officials to cover up these scandals in return for favours to retain their FEI contract.
Mr. Steve Reynolds, who has been in correspondence with the FEI and its integrity unit since 2017, says: “Given the failings of Quest Global Ltd to properly investigate these cases, we have no choice but to expose them as willing and conspiring partners of the FEI who utilise the same tactics of dishonesty, deflection and deceit.
“In 2008, another FEI scandal resulted in the entire Dressage Committee being forced to resign over serious issues of misconduct and abuse of power. In 2010, Quest Global Ltd was awarded the new FEI integrity unit contract to enforce transparency and prevent bullying, corruption and the falsifying of results.
An independent body with discretionary powers over the FEI President, the Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU) was established to protect integrity principles within the equestrian community and investigate any integrity issues related to the FEI.
Despite this, Mr. Reynolds says: “Over the course of their eight-year contract, Quest Global Ltd has allowed relationships with FEI officials to overrule their authority and autonomy; instead, serving personal and commercial interests.”
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- All Equipment Working Group testing reports completed prior to 13 June 2018
- All Equipment Working Group testing reports completed following 13 June 2018
- Quest Global Ltd ignored the indefensible evidence of the falsified documentation completed by Mr. Frank Kemperman issued to us on 25 July 2018 and falsely backdated to 26 June 2018
- The outcome of the equipment testing, which was due to be advised by 30 June 2018
- Quest Global Ltd ignored our requests to supply all written correspondence within the FEI, and between the FEI and the ECIU, in relation to the matter of the STS irons, including the meeting minutes of the FEI Eventing committee held on 23-24 March 2018
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Quest Global Ltd has no intention, now or in the future, of providing the vital evidence in the matter of the STS stirrup irons, which would allow the parties involved to reach a resolution. As such, Quest Global Ltd admits, it is a willing and conspiring partner in this FEI cover-up.
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“In our correspondence to Quest Global Ltd, we made it clear to Mr. Andrew Smith and Lord Stevens that failure to respond would be deemed an admission of guilt. Quest Global Ltd has again chosen a stance of tactical silence, hoping we will simply disappear.
“We are not the only ones demanding answers who are being ignored by the FEI and Quest Global Ltd. Mr. Adrian Morgante, who manufactures the WTP NP Bit, competitive riders and members of the media have also voiced their outrage on these equipment testing scandals. Further, there is evidence of other riders who have contacted Quest Global Ltd lodging complaints who have not received a reply.
“Quest Global Ltd were compelled by the FEI on 4 November 2017 to conduct a thorough investigation into the case of the WTP NP Bit — another instance of equipment testing that has been gravely mishandled by the FEI. However, no report has ever been released.
“It is clear Quest Global Ltd is unfit to govern equestrian sports. They have continuously allowed FEI officials to use lies, deception and falsified results to distort the truth to National Federations, FEI stakeholders, the media and members of the public without consequence.
“It is not only the welfare and wellbeing of horses and riders that is at stake but the future of equestrian sports, if left in the incompetent hands of Quest Global Ltd. A massive overhaul and an independent commission is needed for the FEI to prevent conflicts of interest and acts of corruption.
In investigations, it’s about getting people’s confidence so that you can talk to them. In the equestrian world, we’ve got a whistleblowing network. People have got to come to you and expose things in a way where they’ve got the confidence to do it, they are not going to expose themselves and, further, they know that you’re going to take them seriously. In these areas, you’ve got to do that. If you don’t do that, you’re going to get nowhere.
The GSI project has also been inspired by a weakness in sports administration that has been exposed repeatedly in the past decade – that sport either lacks the specialist knowledge to get its house in order, or it turns to professionals who are too close to take an objective view.
Media Enquiries:
Mr. Steve Reynolds
Email: [email protected]
Following Notes:
Case 1: WTP NP Bit
Overview
The WTP NP Bit is a gentle snaffle bit that is safe for use in all equestrian disciplines and supports horse welfare.
Since 2014, the WTP Bit company has been in correspondence with the FEI and Quest Global Ltd regarding a corrupt and unethical equipment testing process.
Timeline of Key Events
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The FEI Constitution stipulates equipment submitted to the FEI is to be tested by two members of the authorised testing panel under riding conditions.
The FEI Constitution also compels the authorised testing panel to release information contained in testing reports if requested by relevant parties.
The outcome of equipment testing is distributed to all National Federations and published on the FEI website following equipment testing.
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The company was advised equipment testing had taken place and they were informed on the 16 October 2014 the WTP NP Bit was not approved for use in FEI Dressage competitions.
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On 12 December 2015, Ms. Mayer stated to facilitate a thorough and fair comparison of the Myler Bit and WTP Bit regarding the blocked arms, the FEI would be re-testing their bit in 2016 by an authorised testing panel; however, to their knowledge, this testing has never taken place.
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On 5 July 2016, the company contacted Ms. Mayer to confirm the outcome of the equipment testing, and Ms. Mayer informed them on the 5 July 2016 the WTP NP Bit could not be approved for use by the FEI because of the function of the bit.
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The company submitted evidence to Ms. Mayer proving this claim to be false and incorrect. To this, she replied the decision was final; however, she later changed her position, stating they could appeal, but when asked to provide the 2014 and 2016 testing reports, she ignored them.
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In January 2010, the FEI set up the independent Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU), run by UK firm Quest Global Limited, to protect integrity principles within the equestrian community and investigate any integrity issues related to the FEI.
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The company has been in correspondence with Quest Global Ltd since March 2017. The FEI announced on 4 November 2017, as a matter of good governance, the ECIU would investigate the case and provide a report to them outlining their findings.
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Case 2: Safety Technology Stirrups Irons
Overview
The Safety Technology Stirrups (STS) Irons are the only stirrup irons in the world to win an Australian international design award for safety.
Since 15 November 2017, we have been in correspondence with the FEI and Quest Global Ltd regarding a corrupt and unethical equipment testing process.
Timeline of Key Events
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The FEI Constitution stipulates equipment submitted to the FEI is to be tested by two members of the authorised testing panel under riding conditions.
The FEI Constitution also compels the authorised testing panel to release information contained in testing reports if requested by relevant parties.
The outcome of equipment testing is distributed to all National Federations and published on the FEI website following equipment testing.
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Based on further correspondence with the FEI, I believe the testing report was completed and signed prior to 13 June 2018; however, despite my requests, I have never received it. The FEI published the following objection on 13 June 2018:
Toe stopper must be made of collapsible material (plastic, rubber). Any device which could restrict the smooth separation of the athlete’s boot from the stirrup in case of a fall is forbidden.
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Equestrian Community Integrity Unit
- Brought into effect by the former FEI President Princess Haya, Quest Global Ltd was contracted to prevent a repeat of the 2008 FEI Dressage Committee scandal, whereby members abused their position and power, without accountability, giving rise to serious concerns of misconduct.
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Prior to the 2009 FEI General Assembly, Chairman Lord Stevens stated:
“Integrity is non-negotiable. The sport will only move forward if we show to the world that the equestrian community is fully committed to clean and fair sport at all levels. Integrity is about fair play right across the sport. It is as much about protecting the innocent, as it is about trying to prevent and identify irregular practices.” - Speaking before the 2017 FEI General Assembly, Chairman Lord Stevens highlighted the increasing number of reports of misconduct.
“[The] ECIU continued to do many investigations and, in the past year, the ECIU undertook a number of investigations that came to the ECIU’s attention from various sources, such as grooms, riders, horse enthusiasts and the media.
“Some examples of the concerns were allegations of bribery, bullying, and manipulations of results. There had been an increase of the number of reporting. 152 reports were made to the ECIU last year, compared to 136 in 2016.”
The FEI states rider safety is paramount. However, they refuse to be transparent over this scandal.
The FEI system is so flawed they introduce new rules and processes, and then they breach them.
Looks like someone is getting a kickback.
After reading the STS document and watching the video, it is very clear the FEI claims are completely flawed and should have been withdrawn, and the irons should have been approved.
We are angry and entitled to the truth as our lives are being put at risk, and we are being denied our right to safety, and if our family members are injured or killed, we will sue the FEI for $20 million dollars.
